Nitro vs "poly"

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ICBMICBM Frets: 71963
edited May 2019 in Guitar
Prompted by another thread about nitro finish and natural wear/age...

Here are three guitars - disguised as much as possible so you won't get it from knowing what the makers use - with natural wear. Apologies for the bright reflections, I was trying to show the surface texture as well.

Which finish is which?







SCRelics will know one of them, don't spoil it yet .

"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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Comments

  • tsj93tsj93 Frets: 49
    bottom two nitro, top one poly?
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  • JD50JD50 Frets: 651
    edited May 2019
    poly / Thin poly / nitro
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  • Cant really tell. Push comes to shove I'll go

    Nitro
    poly
    nitro

    Of the two, I always prefer poly because it's fit for purpose. Nitro is a toxic old product that should be extinct.
    Also a new guitar with nitro is always sticky. You know when its cured because thats when crazing (patina) kicks in.
    I sometimes think, therefore I am intermittent
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  • Fifty9Fifty9 Frets: 491
    Can you make some videos please. I need to know which finish is allowing the wood to breathe to be sure
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6915
    tFB Trader
    polywhat? 
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  • Bennyboy-UKBennyboy-UK Frets: 1710
    polywhat? 
    ...a very sensible question :) 
    I'm always looking for interesting USA Hamers for sale.

    At the moment I'm looking for:
    * Hamer Watson, SS2, Vintage S, T62.
    * Music Man Luke 1, Luke II

    Please drop me a message.
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 18389
    Ester or urethane. I reckon it isn't styrene  ;)
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6915
    tFB Trader
    It was tongue-in-cheek as @ICBM will realise
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 18389
    ^I'm certain he would too. Just in jest.
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  • HAL9000HAL9000 Frets: 9553
    Poly
     Nitro
    Nitro
    I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
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  • HAL9000HAL9000 Frets: 9553

    polywhat? 
    ...filla?
    I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
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  • DaevidJDaevidJ Frets: 414
    They are all Poly... 
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  • SnagsSnags Frets: 5327
    polywhat? 
    wannacrakka
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  • LastMantraLastMantra Frets: 3822

    You know when its cured because thats when crazing (patina) kicks in.
    ....want a cracker? 
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  • Matt_McGMatt_McG Frets: 321
    Poly, Poly, Nitro

    But I am absolutely not an expert, having never owned a guitar that isn't poly. That said, I have liked a couple of old nitro finished guitars that I've played, and there did feel like a slight difference under the hands (although you could get there, I suppose with a thinner poly finish).
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  • HAL9000HAL9000 Frets: 9553
    Question...

    Are there any sensible alternatives to the usual nitro or poly finishes? After all, both have their problems. Nitro reacting with all sorts of things (as well as having toxicity issues), and poly being unsightly when it takes a ding. Also poly (going by pics in another thread) not really keying particularly well to the wood.

    For instance... whatever cars are painted with these days (I assume it’s not nitro) seems to key to the metal pretty well, and generally bends without cracking or falling off even in quite a heavy accident.
    I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
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  • DeadmanDeadman Frets: 3853
    Nitro
    Nitro

    last one.... poly that’s been ‘fake nitro’d’??
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 18389
    ^ Given that the guitar industry has always used paint technologies that were originally developed by car manufacturers, I reckon that water based is the future.
    Not very new, or a definitive article, but it covers most points (I think).
    https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-1007-painting-with-waterborne-paint/
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 71963
    polywhat? 
    Indeed ;).

    Deadman said:

    last one.... poly that’s been ‘fake nitro’d’??
    None of them are faked.

    Interesting results so far - all of them have been guessed both ways. Not telling yet :).

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6915
    tFB Trader
    DaevidJ said:
    They are all Poly... 
    Indeed. Nitrocellulose is a nitrated polysaccharide
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